3 Qualities to look for in an Online Therapist
By Tracey Johnson
You might feel as though you need to hire a therapist at some point in your life. Maybe you’ve experienced trauma or struggle with maintaining mental health, and you want to work on coping strategies and other exercises focused on healing. Perhaps you’re having family problems, and you believe a therapist can help you resolve them.
Online therapy is becoming more abundant for convenience and safety reasons. You’ll need to use a different process when choosing an online therapist than the one you would use to hire a person who gives in-person sessions. The following are three qualities you need to look for in an online therapist:
#1 Relevant Expertise
It’s important to find an online therapist who practices in the areas of expertise that you need. There are so many divisions and subdivisions in the realm of mental health that you might be confused about who to look for. The problem with choosing the wrong type of provider is that you may not get your needs met. Even worse, you could end up being treated for something you don’t have. Therapy can only work if the therapist takes the time to get to know the entirety of your experience and not just the initial symptoms you may initially present with.
Furthermore, it’s important that you find someone who has training or understanding in a relevant area. For example, if you’re suffering from an eating disorder, you’ll need to look for a therapist who has that subject on her list of areas of expertise. Addiction is a broader area of that expertise that you can search for if you can’t find more specific categories.
If you’re dealing with grief, you’ll need someone who has expertise in grief. You will give yourself the best chance at recovering if you can find someone who’s in tune with your realm of discomfort. You can find this information on websites for therapists that feature their practices and services. They usually list their educational experience and the areas in which they’ve helped people.
#2 Availability
Availability is another element that you should look for in an online therapist. You need to decide how frequently you want to see the therapist. Maybe you’re comfortable with once-a-month meetings. Maybe you need more frequent sessions like weekly ones. Alternatively, you may need someone who will be available to talk to you every day. In that situation, you’ll need to do some research and find a therapist who isn’t bogged down with appointments. This might be a therapist who is generally new to the platform.
#3 Compassion and Warmth
The most important elements to look for in an online therapist are compassion and warmth. You’ll need a super-compassionate person if you’ve dealt with devastating trauma. This person will need to talk to you in a non-judgmental way and help you makes sense of your experiences. This individual should also have a warm and inviting demeanor so that you will be more inclined to seek assistance from that person. Trust usually develops within the first few sessions.
Choose Your Therapist Today
Now you know at least three qualities you need to look for in an online therapist. Affordability is another important aspect that you should be looking for. Once you know that a therapist has the potential to be right for you, you can set up an initial discussion. Only choose a provider who meets your needs and makes you feel comfortable. It will only work if you are 100 percent secure in your relationship. Thus, you’ll need to find a therapist who you can trust with any information you provide.
The online platform makes it a little bit more difficult to gauge whether a therapist is trustworthy and compassionate. You can use some alternative methods to find out more. First, you can read the reviews of people who have gotten services from the provider.
Read what they have to say about the provider’s attitude, friendliness, and care. You can also look at the provider’s profile to see if he or she has a welcoming face. Don’t judge your decision on that alone, however. Some people don’t take friendly-looking pictures if they don’t smile. However, you can read the therapist’s profile to get an idea of how that person thinks and feels about providing therapy.
Author Bio
Tracey Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn StateUniversity. She is passionate about writing, reading, and leading a healthy lifestyle. She feels happiest when around a campfire surrounded by friends, family, and her Daschund named Rufus
About The Author